…our quiet time with God revealed…

Month: January 2013

Today I challenge you all with the challenge God has set before me…. Write the vision! Write down your goals, long and short term. Write down your mission or belief statement and write down your personal vision for your life. If you truly seek God about this your vision will fall right in place with his. Husbands do this for your families and Wives, be ready to help cultivate. It’s time to be in purpose on purpose!

As I relaxed most of yesterday and posted pictures from the holiday and posted the word that the Lord gave my husband Pastor Glen Parker—PURPOSEFUL FAVOR for 2013. The analytical part of me wondered what the number 3 significance is to the church—so I began my study of the Jewish meaning of 3. As we look at the Jewish year that coincides with 2013 it would be 5773.
Gimel or “3″
Number “3″ in the aleph-bet, gimel, is symbolic of the camel. Gimel’s pictograph depicts a walking camel’s head, neck and forelegs. Camels are burden-bearing beasts employed by kings of old. Unusually tolerant of heat, long periods of time can pass between waterings, making the camel the desert-traveler’s choice of transportation. For many, the past season has been a desert of hardship. Frankly, I struggled sharing this word in light of the prevalent discouragement among the body of Christ. The promises of God, however, stand regardless of our disappointments. “What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar,” Romans 3:3-4 NIV. Don’t abandon hope, but humbly accept the word God has planted in your heart, for it has the power to save your soul. During this year, the Lord will demonstrate faithfulness to the one who counts Him as faithful.
Camels are the desert ships of kings and their riches. In 2 Chronicles 9:1, the Queen of Sheba brought Solomon gold, gems and spices on a caravan of camels. Eliezer brought the bride, Rebecca, home to Isaac on a caravan of camels. Kings and wealthy businessmen used camels to transport goods along trade routes. The following facts are shared on the American Bible Society website.
· Camel caravans were important to the economies of cities and empires.
· Camels are the best desert pack animals due to their amazing strength.
· They can carry anywhere from 350-1000 pounds each!
· Passengers could ride atop or be carried in baskets on either side.
· Camels can live on and digest thorny plants in the desert.
· Camels can survive many days without water as their body stores and releases water on journeys.
· Camels have callouses that protect them from the scorching sand.
· The eyelashes of the camel protect him from the blinding sun and the blowing sand.
· Camels possess an acute sense of smell that leads them to desert water sources.
Benevolent
This year will illustrate the Father’s ability to provide for His children, even in a barren wasteland. The Talmud [writings of Jewish civil and ceremonial law] depicts gimel as a wealthy man running to overtake an impoverished man with provision. Jesus, our wealthy king, has methods of sourcing His people during times of hardship. He is not limited in how He can achieve gimel’s aim! As we cross the stage of 2013, One will be revealed Who is poised to overtake us with mercies. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,” Psalm 23:6 KJV.
Redeemer
Gimel illustrates the redemptive power of Christ. It could be said that the camel is a type of Christ, Who lifts others and carries their burdens. Many will traverse the wilderness of 5773 in the basket strapped to gimel’s side. Don’t stop short with the mere hope of survival. Never doubt that God can redeem the losses of your prior season! Gimel never arrives on the scene empty-handed. “See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him,” Isaiah 40:10 NIV.
Gracious
As the number “3″, gimel speaks of the third person of the Trinity. If aleph “1″ is the Father – and bet “2″ is the Son; then, gimel “3″ is the Holy Spirit of truth that proceeded from the Father and son (John 15:26). It is the graciousness of the Holy Spirit that works redemption not only for us, but in us. Furthermore, it is the gracious Holy Spirit that works through us to make us agents of redemption and benevolence for others. This is the work of grace.
2013 ends at a dichotomy. In the days ahead, we will both receive and become benevolence from Heaven. Those who consume Father’s kindnesses and do not return the grace, will face years of leanness ahead. The one who receives from gimel and in turn pays it forward, will become a part of Heaven’s caravan. “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed,” Proverbs 11:24-25 NIV.
I leave you with this challenge. Give to others this year as never before. If you’re struggling to put food on your table, give to another of the little you do have. If ends don’t ever seem to meet, work to bless another family in need. As we release our material wealth to gimel, Father can redeem us from materialism, fear and self-centeredness. Truly we depend on Christ to be our gimel in this year. However, by the end of gimel’s season, we should have become the camel of provision in others’ lives.
Based on what we know about the camel, expect that you will grow into the following Christ-like traits:
· You will become important to the economy round about you.
· You will have developed amazing strength by learning to bear other’s burdens.
· Just as the camel can live on and digest thorny desert plants, so the undesirable things of this season will serve to fuel your journey.
· There will be times of refreshing that will hydrate you for lengthy periods.
· Your travels have given your feet callouses that will serve to protect you from the blistering sands.
· The eyelashes of the camel protect him from the blinding sun and the blowing sand. Just the same, your vision will not be impaired by inopportune circumstances.
· Camels possess an acute sense of smell that leads them to desert water sources. You will prove the inner guidance of the Holy Spirit Who leads you in the way you should go – the way everlasting.

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